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Tina Kotek for House District 44, Democratic primary: Editorial endorsement

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House Speaker Tina Kotek presides over the Joint Committee on the Special Session in 2013. Helping to negotiate the "grand bargain" was one of her key legislative accomplishments.
(Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian)

After four terms, the most recent as Speaker of the House, Tina Kotek, D-Portland, is one of the most visible members of the Oregon Legislature. That makes her an easy target for those, such as opponent Joe Rowe, who disagree with some of her decisions. But Kotek has been right more often than wrong, has handled speaker duties in a calm and deliberative manner, and deserves to be re-elected. She played a key role, along with Gov. John Kitzhaber and other legislative leaders, in bringing together the 2013 “grand bargain” that curbed PERS costs.

Kotek’s support of the Columbia River Crossing, which would have been in her North Portland district, drew Rowe’s ire and spurred him to run against her. Beyond his opposition to the bridge, Rowe sees Kotek’s willingness to compromise to advance legislation as a reason she should be removed from office. We see it as her greatest strength and a reason she should be re-elected. If she wins the primary, her general election opponent will be the same candidate she beat in 2012, Republican Michael Harrington.